Waiting for Your Dream

God-sized Dream = A desire in your heart for more of what God has for you.

photo by khrawlings

We’re opening the door to God-sized dreams in 2013. So every week we get together to encourage each other {because don’t we all need it? yes, ma’am.}. This week Mary DeMuth is here to share about God-sized dreams with you…

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From Mary DeMuth…

When God first gave me the vision, I was in my twenties, raising little people, longing to write, speaking here and there. The vision involved me speaking to men and women, encouraging them, speaking about Jesus.

It’s been over twenty years.

And I’ve tasted bits and pieces of the dream, but not taken a full bite.

During my early thirties, I shelved the dream, felt it unreachable. But I felt that longing ache, that desire to see the whole body of Christ gathered together. I had things to say to men and women. But I didn’t let my words out. Not yet.

In my late thirties, I spoke at a staff conference for Christian Associates, our church planting organization, when we pioneered a church in France. I felt the energy of a male/female audience, felt it way down deep. And longed for more. My pastor asked me to speak about my book Building the Christian Family You Never Had from the podium, but they’d removed the podium, put me on a couch, and had the pastor ask me questions. I loved it, but I still had that longing for something more. This year, I had the privilege this year of keynoting at the Exodus conference and I felt that same thrill. Yes. This is what I was meant to do.

When I tell others of this crazy dream, most smile. Few affirm. My husband does, is fully behind me. My literary agent sees it and cheers. A few friends gather around this dream. But there are few models out there for women speaking to the church. There are pockets, yes, but not much precedent in your average Bible belt churches. Sometimes I feel like a pioneer, an interloper.

I don’t know when or how this crazy dream will be fulfilled, but I look forward to it. Like Joseph, I was very young when it was birthed, and a lot of life, trial, pain, and grit have happened in the in between times. I’m grateful the dream didn’t instantly come my way. I’m sure Joseph was thankful too. His pride, my pride, would’ve gotten in the way of God’s redemptive plan. God needs humbled, settled, broken folks to carry out His God-sized dreams.

So don’t despair if decades pass between the dream and its fulfillment. This is God’s economy, and it’s perfect. I’ll wait alongside you and cheer.

*****Mary DeMuth is the author of 14 books including Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus (Thomas Nelson). She loves to write and speak about living an uncaged life. She lives in Texas with her teens and husband of 22 years. You can find her on twitter @MaryDeMuth or Facebook.

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Now it’s your turn!

Take this “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream: Share about your favorite nonprofit organization. They are all God-sized dreams in action. How have they inspired you? For example, mine is the Leadership Development Program from Compassion International because they’re releasing new God-sized dreamers into the world.

So we can all find each other, please include this God-sized Dreams button in your post. Also, love on your fellow God-sized dreamin’ sisters by leaving a comment on the post before yours.

For next week take this “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream: What part of your dream feels the riskiest? Have you ever had people misunderstand or disagree with your dream? What do you do when your dream is scary or when others don’t support you? Share about your answers to those questions in a post and link up here next week. {If you don’t have a blog, you can share in the comments.}

Comments

My favorite non-profits are Exodus and Polaris Project. I’ve used both in my research for my book which is my dream. They don’t just have information but are active in assisting those used by human traffickers.

As i was reading Mary’s blog today she said she wanted to talk about Jesus. That spoke peace to me. I need more Jesus in my book. It was helpful with a little comic relief here and there but not really spiritual. But i’m beginning to feel a desire for more Jesus. He’s the rescuer and healer of those harmed by evil ones and the reason we care.

Thank you! Thank you! This is me right now sitting at my desk in a middle school classroom two days prior to the end of another school year…………….. God dipped my dream into my heart in April 2005. The dream of speaking to people, especially women and girls… Oh, how I am still waiting for my dream to come to fruition, also. Yes, He has given me opportunities to speak at Ladies Teas and I have even been trusted to stand behind pulpits to speak of His Love.. For now He has me here, ministering to the faithful women who gather in my classroom on a daily basis… Isaiah 30:41 declares, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall walk and not be weary, they shall run and not faint.” Thank you for your ‘timely’ words of encouragement..

Thank You so much for todays message. I had a dream soon after my husband died. A dream of me speaking to the broken body of Christ ( in group form ), edifying and encouraging hurting broken Christians. There are so many. I have teh blessing of doing this daily in my secular job. My dream still resides in my heart

Oh Mary, this is marvelous sharing here. First, yes! Dream that and live into that! Men and women both need to hear your message of freedom in Christ. But also, as a late thirty-something who has let so much time go by without taking my own dreams seriously, I am encouraged by your story. Thanks so much for putting this out here.

What a wonderful and timely post for me. I’m 48 and have had a dream inside of my heart for 20 years. I am a childbirth educator and dream big of the day of owning my own education space to hold classes about pregnancy and birth, teaching women of the wonderful design of birth. For now, I grab onto the small pieces of it and try to remember to enjoy every moment of the journey.
Thanks for sharing!

This is so encouraging for me. I would love to be able to help other women through the journey of healing from having an abusive parent(s), especially with those who exhibit Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I have met so many women who’ve had such parents and the effects can be debilitating. I think about it every single day.

Having a parent or parents with NPD isn’t something many people talk about. I believe I’ve had that experience in my adult life but can’t think of anyone in my family or otherwise who would want to talk about it. “Can be debilitating” is accurate and it can be a lonely road to healing. Thanks for confirming to me that there are others who have experienced it!!

My favorite non-profit has not yet reached nonprofit status but could use everyone’s help to get there: http://www.hopeheals.com.

The couple behind it have an amazing, miraculous story of what God can do. I know the husband (or knew him as a child, we went to middle school together). Just over 5 years ago, his wife, who is 31 now, collapsed in the kitchen and was rushed to the hospital. She had a major AVM rupture that nearly killed her. However, God worked miracles, bringing Katherine back to life, slowly but surely. Her journey and both her faith and her husband Jason’s faith have helped so many people, including myself, see the power of God and what hope can do.

Please read more of their story on their site (www.hopeheals.com) and help them reach nonprofit status and get their message out of hope out to others. You will not walk away from their story untouched.

Thank you for your encouraging words, Mary. So many of us have expressed concern about getting to our dream, what others will think, etc, so it is always wonderful to hear from others on their journey. I have no doubt you have reached and will continue to reach others via your speaking. Blessings to you!

Hello Holley,
The words by Mary DeMuth fed my soul today. She states “that God needs humbled, settled, broken folks to carry out His God-sized dreams”. After going through decades of trials and set backs I can now see how He is shaping and molding me for my dreams. In my reasoning I was thinking how can I proceed with my dreams if I have all these setbacks. With my prayers and unsuccessful attempts to make my dreams succeed I have seen decades pass with no results. Granted I have been successful in my education dreams obtaining my M.A. but there are two dreams that go unfulfilled. Mary also states ” so don’t despair if decades pass between the dream and its fulfillment”. I know that my dreams will come to fruition in His perfect timing. I thank God for you and your ministry. I know that I know that I was supposed to find your ministry. Blessings dear Holley.

It’s hard when decades whiz by and our dreams aren’t realized. So very hard. But keep persevering. I think for me, the Lord needed me to get to a place where I realized I couldn’t make the dream happen in my own strength. He would do it in His sweet timing.

This resonated with me straight away – the years to decades passing in between the dream and the fulfilment, the refining process (and yes, growth hurts..!). The Refiner’s fire does not destroy though; it purifies. Wrong motives fade, clearer vision comes, Christ-likeness of character. What an adventure!
Thanks for sharing Mary and grace and truth to all God-sized dreamers

Yes, I have had a dream since I was a child to sing and share God through music. God allowed me to experience this dream in my early 20’s by singing with two college groups around the United States and in Australia. I shared songs that I loved but really had never experienced personally. One day the voice was gone. My dream was gone and I began to believe the LIE that it was gone because I could not be perfect for God. I surrendered my dream in grief and wandered for years wondering what my real purpose was but believing I was on a shelf til heaven. I married and raised two boys who taught me so much about God, love, giving up control, and realizing ONLY GOD can bring things to pass. I also taught voice and piano in my studio and found peace and God’s satisfaction in sharing the gift of music to all the children God brought to my small room. It was okay to teach but to sing or direct seemed off limits because I failed to be a perfect believer. Yet still the passion to encourage others through doing music lingers fervently within. I am older now but God is beginning to break the lies that have kept me from believing I have something to offer. Of course HE has humbled me greatly and taught me I am nothing unless I am submitting who I am And the gifts HE ALONE has given. This summer I have the opportunity to direct a choir and I am both excited and thankful because I almost listened to the lie and said no. I have some great friends who have spoken TRUTH into my life and are helping me see God uses broken vessels. I am getting another opportunity to see a little of a dream become real. I am also learning giving the dreams to God and taking His dreams have an amazing return. Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. -Kathy

The part about having great friends who spoke the truth into your life is great! So glad you received the encouragement you needed to move forward. I believe that the love and support of friends whom God places in our lives is so important to us following through with our dreams!!

Mary, thank you for these timely words. I have a dream in my heart to share my story through words, and a dream to adopt a child, and for both the going feels painfully slow. I love your illustration of Joseph. Having just finished a year-long study of Genesis this morning, Joseph has been on my mind a lot lately. He is such an excellent example of someone persevering through suffering, struggle and the ordinary day to day until the time came for his dreams to be fulfilled. I am encouraged, by your story and by Joseph’s, to wait on God’s timing, to work hard and faithfully day to day, waiting and trusting. May God continue to bless you in the place of your dreams!

Thank you for sharing your story, Mary. Sometimes I half-jokingly remind God, “You know, Lord, I’m not getting any younger here!” You’re so right: the passing of time is of no concern to our Heavenly Father. His timing is perfect.

I was also inspired by the comments above. So many different dreams and all of them worthwhile. I especially appreciated Leah’s insights about waiting: “Wrong motives fade, clearer vision comes, Christ-likeness of character. What an adventure!” The end willl most certainly justify the means!

Thank you for sharing your dream here. I think it is powerful for someone to remain vunerable about hopes deferred. You continue to use words and bring your message while having a piece of the dream just beyond your reach. I pray that the Dream Giver stretches continual blessing towards your hand and that doors open for you to speak to more people. I dream a similar dream, so thanks for the lesson in patience. Know I most certainly cheer for you!

We have a HUGE God sized dream. One that God continues to lead and open doors for. We are looking at becoming missionaries and joining forces with an organization in Haiti and managing an orphanage there. We’ll be meeting with the directors soon… We haven’t told our kids yet or many family or friends. We’ve asked the ones we know will pray for us and we’ve received nothing but support from them, including our pastor. So that’s what’s going on right now. And it’s huge and scary and exciting! We’ve always wanted to be missionaries and I have wanted to do orphan care since I was an itty bitty girl. It will take a few years at least before we are on the field if it all goes well. Thank you for the encouragement. I have other God sized dreams but right now, this is the biggest one that seems crazy and awesome!

Much like Mary, God began writing this story, this book when I was a child. I had no idea how the story would resolve, still don’t. He’s laid out obvious breadcrumbs along the way since I became pregnant with our oldest son. I was a singer. That’s how I used my voice as His instrument. Then I spoke, no singing involved, at a women’s retreat. Serendipity. I was terrified singing in front of large audiences even though that was my major in college. Public speaking wasn’t terrifying, it was exhilarating. “Use your voice, but differently Amy.” God used me to write, to speak, to watch for more breadcrumbs. Breadcrumbs are now becoming the size of boulders! Where I forced or tried to figure out what my vocation was, God knew it along. Problem was, brother’s suicide lead to debilitating depression leading to misunderstanding and a horrible ripped torn family. Blog down. Writing fingers stop tapping. I hide to self-protect. Isolation takes over. Mind goes numb. God became silent and anger raged and shattered my heart. “I’m mad at you God! You can take Your bread of life crumbs and shove it! You’re a tease and a mean God.” Years go by in silence. Then one prayer. One helpless broken prayer of repentance began a rush of God that if you were watching would give you whiplash. No more forcing to “figure it all out”! FREEDOM! God is writing FOR me and He is so much better at it than I ever was.
It feels like He’s holding my head under water and screaming, “You want to die?!”
Me: “No!! I want to live Jesus! Live!! I really do! Help me live!
God: “I AM THE LIVING WATER! You can breathe under water with me. Trust me?”
Me: “I believe! Forgive my unbelief.”
God: “I AM THE LIVING WATER…DRINK!!!! Big gulps Amy. Drink Me in!
Me: Gulp Gulp Gulp. Hardly can breathe. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for not believing! Tears join the Living Water and nearly drown me altogether. I’m undone. I’m finished.

Key unlocks and door opens wide. I become His vessel watching the story write itself and me the passenger riding along at warp speed. Heavy stuff, but good stuff. Honest, raw, messy, full of needy people, hopeless people that God wants to me to touch out and act as His hands of healing. His instrument. Now I’m singing TO HIM! No audience necessary. He’ll handle those details. He’s being a Dad because He doesn’t hold back in His calling me a chump for not trusting Him. However, He is loving me unconditionally and not punishing me for moving so slow. He’s showing me I wasn’t ready. To be continued…

I think it is good to note that sometimes God gives you a dream long before it will be ready to be realized. Joseph waited a long time and went through a lot of hard things before he truly grasped the dream he had so many years before.
I never really had big dreams for my life until I went through some really difficult things. I was happy enough with just existing. Now my dreams have broken all the barriers I had. I want to write a book with my newfound “way with words.” I want to speak about things like hope and overcoming obstacles. With that, I am kind of like Moses. I would never have thought that I, the extremely quiet introvert, would find my voice let alone stand willingly in front of a crowd. I also would like to start a nonprofit that helps others like me find reasons to hope again.

“Just existing” is definitely not what God wants for us! He has so much more and I’m glad you’re on the path to experiencing more in your life! I don’t believe I’ll ever have a desire to speak in front of crowds, but I have a voice of influence among my friends and that can be what God wants for some of us too! His grace carries us where He wants us to be!

I am 52 years old and just now realiziing my dream to write. God sometimes does give us a desire long before the dream comes to fruition. Looking forward to what else God has in store for me! He is Good!
Blessings,
Bev

I know I’m a day late, but I had to comment on your blog. It really spoke to me. God gave me dream nine years ago to write fiction (which I’d never in a million years ever considered) that I’ve been working on consistently since then. Over the years, I’ve come close to publication and even landed my dream agent. But now that I’m revising my ninth manuscript (with my agent’s guidance) I suddenly find myself farther away from fulfillment than I ever have. This manuscript is not just kicking my ever-widening writer’s bottom, but for the first time in nine years all sorts of strange things have happened to keep me from finishing it. Not minor/procrastination things, but major life upheavals with kids, husband, friends, and aging parents. There are hours–even days–when it feels like I’m being pressed against a wall, as if someone or something doesn’t want me to finish. I find prayer helps, and when the ever-consistent words “trust, obey, and love” are shot into my heart as if by an arrow, the anxiety eases. I just wish this darkness hovering behind me, whispering things like “you’re a failure, it’s been nine years–it’s time to give up” would go away and leave me in peace. And when I read your words today, I did feel that peace and getting words on the page has been easier than it has in weeks. So this is just a long-winded way of saying Thank You. And God Bless you.

Thank you for sharing your story. I was very encouraged by it–in many ways! I can’t tell you how reassuring it is for me to be reminded that just because a few people that are close to me (parents, sister) don’t get excited about and affirm my dream, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a dream God has given me that He plans to bring to life at the right time. This was an “aha” moment–God’s plan for me doesn’t hinge upon the approval of others–duh! 🙂